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Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Awareness to Growing Diabetes Crisis

The American Diabetes Association says one in four Americans has diabetes or is likely to develop type 2 diabetes. This is the fastest growing health crisis for nearly 75 million Americans have the condition or are likely to develop diabetes.

When ADA’s American Diabetes Month was celebrated last November, they focused on the fact that the trend for the occurrence of diabetes was on the rise. How did they do this? They highlighted the “Many Faces of Diabetes” each week.

Week 1 was devoted to the caretakers as these are faced with challenges. The employees was the focus of Week 2 where healthy lifestyles were promoted in the workplace. This will help prevent type 2 diabetes and the complications that may come along and at the same time save money for the employers.

Week 3 focused on diabetes around the world. There are over 246 million people with diabetes around the world and this figure is likely to go up to 380 million in 2020 so ADA proudly supports World Diabetes Day on November 14 as well as the United Nations Resolution urging supporters to fight diabetes.

They did this by letting people know the diabetes facts. They are doing this on a regular basis. In fact, as I write this, I am getting emails from them to write to representatives and others in order to promote any cause for diabetes. And I comply because I know how important it is.

The populations that are at risk was the focus of Week 4 for if the trend continues one of two minorities born in 2000 will get diabetes during their lifetime. Week 5 focused on the youth and type 1 diabetes. These are the ones who need the most pressing care. ADA will supply the resources to these and their families.

I am glad they are doing this because diabetes is now the fifth cause of death through disease. At present, there is no cure although there are all kinds of research studies going on. At least we can still prevent type 2 diabetes and its complications through lifestyle changes. And of course there is insulin. So let’s roll up our sleeves, lose weight by eating right and moving more.